A penniless man's plan to sell drugs spectacularly failed when they dropped out of his shorts in front of police.

Joshua Taylor, 19, was sitting on a sofa at a friend's home in Marshall Avenue, Bridlington, when police arrived to deal with an "unrelated matter".

Just days earlier Taylor, who had no income, had been given 40 wraps of heroin which he planned to sell to drug-using friends.

Describing what happened next, Stephen Welch, prosecuting in Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, said: "The defendant asked if he could use the toilet. However, as he stood up he was seen to drop items from his shorts on the floor. A police constable recovered clear plastic bags containing wraps of a brown-coloured substance."

Read More

The wraps he dropped in front of police on October 24 last year were found to contain 7.95 grams of heroin, with a street value of £400. Taylor was arrested and was also found to be in possession of £250 and a mobile phone, while another mobile was also recovered from the flat.

Mr Welch said: "Analysis of messages on the phones indicated the users to be involved in the street-dealing of Class A drugs."

Taylor, whose address on court records is HMP Hull, gave a "no comment" interview but later admitted possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply. He had 19 previous offences on his record, including possession of a bladed article and handling stolen goods. He was subject to a community order at the time of the drugs offence, which was imposed for having the blade.

Hull Crown Court (Image: Hull Crown Court)

Steven Garth, mitigating, said: "He had no source of income at all; for some reason he wasn't claiming benefits."

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: "He's obviously something of what might be described as a rogue. Why has he suddenly decided to get himself involved in drug crime?"

Mr Garth said: "He tells me this, your honour, two or three days before his arrest he was in the company of some individuals who were in possession of 40 wraps of heroin, and they offered those 40 wraps to this defendant.

"He tells me he foolishly agreed to buy them because he knew that some of his Bridlington friends, drug users, were always on the look-out for drugs, and he had intended to take advantage of this and sell the drugs on to his friends, making some pocket money. It seems it was a piece of opportunism."

Read More

Sentencing Taylor to two years' detention, the judge told him: "I want to make it absolutely clear to you that individuals who peddle drugs, particularly Class A drugs, inevitably go to prison or detention. The only issue is how long they serve.

"In your case, although you have previous convictions you have taken a new turning in your criminal career. It is a cul-de-sac as far as you are concerned, and I trust you will turn around and lead a rather better life hereafter, certainly not involving yourself in drugs, because mark my words, if you do continue with drugs, and peddling them in particular, then I'm afraid, given this sentence sits upon your record, any sentence hereafter will be long.

"Up to a point you are being given a chance at the moment. Do I make myself clear to you?"